Beet harvesting machine



Nov. 24, 1936. J. FECHTNER BEET HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1935 7Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 24, 1936.. J, FECHTNER 2,051,834

' BEET HARVESTIN'GLMACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1935 7 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. '24, 1936. I l FECHTNE.; 2,061,834

BEET HARVESTING MACHINE rFiled Aug. 9. 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 2 4, 1936. J. FECHTNER BEET HARVESTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Aug. 9, 1935 A'ITORNE Y.

Nov. 24, 1936. J. FEcHrNER BEET HARVESTINGv MACHINE Filed Aug. 9. '19:55

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Nav. Z4, 1936. J.. FECHTNER BEET HARVESTING MACHINE I Fheets-Sheet 7Filed Aug. 9, 1935 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

The invention, in general, relates to devices which are yadapted totraverse a eld of crops .and simultaneously to gather the same. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an improved machine of thecharacter specified which is especially adapted and designed for thepulling and topping of beets and like crops.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a beet harvestingmachine' which aiords a maximum amount of harvesting with a minimum oflabor and in a minimum of time.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of theaforementioned character which is relatively simple to operate and whichis readily handled on short turns at the ends of v the fields.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved unloadingmechanism in a harvesting machine.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageousfeatures thereof, will appear from the following description of thepreferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. While I have shown the preferred embodiment ofthe invention in the drawings, it is to be understood that I am not tobe limited to the embodiment shown, as the invention, as dened in theappended claims, may be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view looking into the face'of the inclined frame FII ofthe device and normal to 4such frame.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of cutter adjusting mechanism andcutters.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the beet topping mechanism andfollow-up devices for the cutters.

Figure 5 is a side view of the topping mechanism illustrating the meansfor initiating the same.A

Figure 6 is a detail of a portion of the followup system for the'beetcutters.

Figure 7 is a side view of the mechanism for actuating thecutter-holding arms.

Figure 8 is also a side viewof the mechanism for actuating thecutter-holding arms with the parts in a different position than thatshown in Figure 7. Y

Figure 9 is an end view of the mechanism illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

Figure 10 is another View of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail showing one of the sets of pulleys,pulley-holders, springs and spring-holders for regulating the beetconveyor.

Figure 12 is a plan view of mechanism for handling the machine on shortturns.

Figure 13 is a side view of the same mechanism illustrated on Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a rear view of the embodiment of my invention shown inFigure 1 and illustrates the mechanism for automatically opening andclosing of hopper doors for discharging the topped beets.

Figure 15 is a view similar to the showing in Figure 14 exceptt'hat oneof the hopper doors is shown in open position.

Figure 16 is a detail of a portion of the automatic actuating mechanismfor operating th hopper doors.

Figure 1'7 is a View of certain elements of the hopper opening andclosing mechanism.

Figure 18 is a side view of the elements shown in Figure 17.

Figure 19 -is an enlarged view of another element of the hopperdischarging mechanism.

Figure 20 is a side view of the hopper and mechanism employed forautomatically opening and closing hopper doors.

Figure 21 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the automaticdischarging mechanism associated with the hopper.

Figure 22, see Sheet l, is an elevation of a por:- tion of the drivingmechanism associated with the rear axle. of the machine.

Figure 23, see Sheet 1, is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figure22.

In its preferred form, the beet pulling and topping machine of myinvention preferably comprises a vehicle adapted to be advanced over afield of crops, means on said vehicle for severing l the beets from thesoil and means operable by the advance of the vehicle for Iconveying thebeets to topping mechanism, together .with' means for positioning thebeets for topping While being conveyed to the topping mechanism. meansfor actuating the topping mechanism, means for conveying the toppedbeets to a hopper during the adinvention includes a pair of frontground-engaging wheels WA, together with a pair of relatively large rearground-engaging wheels WB. The wheels WA and WB support a main vehicleframe FI which in turn supports a superstructure consisting of framesFII to FVI inclusive for supporting various operating mechanisms andelements hereinafter described.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the frame FI is off-setadjacent the front of the vehicle to provide clearance for the frontwheels WA when the machine is making short turns. Mechanism forpermitting vshort turns by the vehicle is illustrated. in Figures 12 and13 of the drawings and hereinafter speciiically described.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a relatively large inclinedframe FII for carrying the beet pulling, beet leaf bending and holdingmechanism as well as conveying mechanism to transmit the beets to thecutters. As illustrated in Figure 1, the inclined frame FII is movablysupported upon frame FI by means of pivotally mounted V-shaped supportsI on pins 5 which are connected to brackets B secured to opposite sidesof frame FI. Uprights 2, which are secured to frame FI, carry rod 3 towhich are secured a pair of arms 4, which in turn are linked to frameFII by a pair of links 5. The movable frame FII is adapted to be raised.and lowered from and to working and road position by mechanism from theoperators seat, as hereinafter specified. The frame FII, in its loweredor working position is partially supported on the front axle 6 of thevehicle by means of the hooks F2A which are fastened to the forward endof frame FII. It is to be noted that the front axle 6 is formed `with aforward projecting portion 6A to row of beets 'as it progresses acrossafield. To

loosen and lift the beets from the soil, I have lprovided a pair ofblades 1 and 11 which are laterally vadjustably secured by means ofplates 1A to the leading end of the frame FII. As the machine advancesover the eld, the beets are loosened and lifted by the blades 1 and' 11and carried back toward the transverse center of frame FII. During thismovement, the leaves of the beets are pressed inwardly, vby means ofplates 8 secured to the frame just back of the blades. and beets whichare lifted too high are pressed downwardly to below the belts by theplates 8A secured to the frame FII `at substantially right angles to theplate 8. In addition to plates 8 and 8A, I provide a transverselydisposed plate 9 on the frame FII adjacent to the plates 6 and 8A, forfolding the leaves of the beets in a generally backward direction sothat endless belts, de-

' scribed below, for conveying the beets to the cutters may morereadily. grip a relatively large number of the leaves, and therebyassist in pulling the beets from the ground.

' As illustrated particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings, the variouselements for supporting, adjusting and tightening the beet conveyorbelts are supported by the movable frame FE and include a pair of Ushaped pulley holders I and |31, with side movement, mounted on pins'IIIA in holders IBB secured to frame FII. By adjustment of plates II,the elevation of the endless belts may conveniently be regulated. 'Iheholders I0 and |01 support a pair of front pulleys I2 and |21 over whichthe beet conveyor belts are trained.

A plurality of pulley holders I3, I4, I and I6, are provided forsupporting relatively small pulleys I1 to 20, inclusive, which pressagainst the conveyor belts to move the belts toward each other so thatthe beets are held 'by their leaves between the belts as they areconveyed toward the cutters. The conveyor belts may have smooth surfacesbut, if desired, relatively thin strips of small dimensions can beprovided on the outer surface of each belt at spaced intervals to assistin gripping the beet tops. This is especially desirable in the eventthat in use, the belts become quite moist and slippery. Spring meanspreferably are employed for urging the small pulleys against theconveyor belts, and to this end I provide a plurality of spring holders2| which are secured to the frame FII and to which are lfastened springs22. Springs 23, mounted in holders 24 which are fastened to frame FII,are provided for urging the pulleys I2 and |21 toward each other.Spindles 241 serve to connect the various pulley holders to the severalpulleys. The belts are also trained over a. pairof rear pulleys 25 and251, which are secured to shafts 26 and 261 journaled in bearingscarried by the frame FII. In addition to the foregoing elements foradjusting the conveyor belts, I have provided belt tightening pulleys 21and 211, movably supported by arms 28 and 281 respectively, which arepivotally mounted to the frame FII. For urging the pulleysl 21, 211against the belts, I again employ spring means and to this end providespring holders 29 and 291 for springs 30, 301 which are adjustablymounted upon the frame FII.

Inorder to move the conveyor belts 3| and 3I1, I preferably provide apair of chain drives, one from the rear axle of the vehicle, althoughother drive means may be employed, as desired. In this embodiment of myinvention, see Figure 1 of the drawings, a sprocket wheel 32 is securedto a clutch on the rear axle and placed in driving connection with asprocket wheel W movably mounted on the pin S. A second sprocket wheelW2 is carried by the pin S and is connected by means of the chain 33 toa sprocket wheel 34 which is vfastened to shaft 35 journaled in bearingson the frame FII. The shaft 35 is placed in driving connection with thepulley shafts 26, 261, respectively by means of bevel gears 36 and 361respectively, which are driven by bevel gears 31, 311 mounted on shaft35. See in this connection, Figure 2 of drawings.

" are mounted for both side and vertical movement and to effect such aresult'I connect these rods to rocker shafts 39, which are mounted inbearings 40 carried by the frame FIII. To urge the rods 38 inwardlyagainst the beet tops while at the same'tixne to permit side andvertical movementl of such rods, I provide a pair of rods 42 which areconnected to rocker-shafts 43 mounted in bearings carried by the frameFIII, and also movably connected at 33A to the rods 33, and I` alsoprovide a pair of springs 44 secured to the rocker shafts 43 forpressing the rods 38 through the connecting rods 42, toward one anotheras the beets slide along under the rods 38 toward the cutters.

foractuating the topping mechanism, I provide In order to preventdisplacement of the rods 38 which might result from the passagetherebetween of relatively large beets tending to spread the rods apart,I provide return means for the rods 38. These means are connected to therocker shafts 39 and include a pair of collars '392 at the ends of theshafts which together with nuts 393 hold U shaped members 394. The Ushaped members 394 support pins to which links 395 are attached. Links395 are connected t'o L arms 4I which carry at their extremities weights41A. As the rods 38 are spread apart by the passage of large beets, theweights 4 IA urge the rods to their initial position. If desired,springs can be substituted for the weights 4|A.

the topping mechanism, I fasten arms 50 to the rocker shafts 43, seeFigure 3 of the "drawings, and affix the proper weights 5I to the arms50 to offset the weights of the parts 38, 42, 45, 46, and the cutters41.

To avoid interference between the topping mechanism and the beetelevator of the device when the rear of frame FII is lowered, the arms52, which are hinged to rods 53 atvlower end, lift upward. Arms 52 carrycollars 52A at theirouter ends. The collars 52A are slidably connectedto the cutter holders 46 and, as the frame FII is lowered, the collarswith cutter holders contact with the elevator and cause the cutterholders and cutters to move upward out of the way.

In Figures 5 and 7 to 10 inclusive, there are illustrated enlargeddetails of the mechanism for actuating the topping means, such mechanismbeing supported on frames FIV and FV, which are secured to frame FII. Achain drive from wheel 32 connected with a clutch on the rear axle ofthe vehicle is used to actuate the topping mechanism and, to effect thisresult, a sprocket wheel 54 is mounted on the pin S, and bolted tosprocket wheel W, and a chain 55 is trained around the sprocket wheel54. The chain 55 is also trained around a sprocket wheel 56 secured toshaft 56A which is journaled in bearings on frame FIV. See, especially,Figures 1 and 9 of the drawings. I also provide a gear 51 on shaft 56Awhich meshes with a pinion 58 secured to a shaft 59, which is journaledon bearings on the frame FIV. The

shaft 59 also carries .a ,relatively large toothed wheel 60, and in theembodiment of actuating means for the topping mechanism illustrated inthe drawings, I include a double curved rod 62 for engagement with theteeth of the toothed wheel 68, the rod 62 being secured to a stub-shaft63 journaled in a slide-block 64 which is carried by a slide-bar 65secured to frame FIV.k The shaft 63 carries a small bevel gear 66 whichis driven by a bevel gear 61 slidably mounted in a keyway formed in ashaft 68 which is journaled in an offset portion of frame FIV. See, inthis connection, Figure l0 of the drawings. A hook 69 is .provided forconfining the bevel gear 61. Fastened to the shaft 68 is a bevel gear 10which is adapted to be turned by a bevel gear 1I secured to a shaft 12which is journaled in bearings mounted in frames FIV and FV. In additionto the foregoing means For counter-balancing the elements forming Setscrews 48 and 49 are a bevel gear 13 which is fastened to shaft 12 andwhich is turned by a bevel gear 14 secured to a shaft 15 which isjournaled in bearings on frame FV. Connected to shaft 15 and adapted toroy tate the same is a rod 16 which is contacted by the beet tops andmoved thereby as the beet tops are moved or conveyed by and between thebelts 3i and 3|1 toward the cutters 41.

Normally, and when the machine-is at rest, the rod \16 is in theposition shown byfull lines in Figure .4 of the drawings. Also, with themachine at rest as well as when the vehicle is being advanced over aroad, the double curved rod 62 is out of engagement with the largetoothed wheel 60 on shaft 59 and resting on the smooth peripheralsurface of wheel 68A, see Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings. However,during beet pulling and topping operations, the double' curvedl rod 62is moved into engagement with the toothed wheel- 60 by the contact ofbeets With the rod 16 which moves the same thereby turning shaft 15,gears 14 and 13, shaft 12, gears 1| and 10. shaft 68, gears 61 and 66,and stub-shaft 63 to place rod 62 into engagement with toothed Wheel 60.This action also moves the sideblock 64, thereby actuating the toppingmechanism.

The continued advance of the vehicle brings into play the action of alink 11 which -is connected to the slide-block 64' and an arm 18 whichis secured to rod 53. See in this connection, Figures 4 and 5 of thedrawings. The topping mechanism also includes an arm 19 which is alsoconnected to one rod 53, and a link 80 connecting arm 19 to an arm 8|which is fastened to the other rod 531. Actuation of link 11 and arm 18by the driving connection from the wheel WB, or sprocket Wheel 32 ifmotor is used, through toothed wheel 63 causes swinging of both arms 52,which are fastened to rods 53, thereby causing the cutter holders 46 andcutters 41 which are held at the outer ends of `rods 52 to swinginwardly and operate to top the beets as they are conveyed to theposition of the cutters. The cutters remain in their inw-ard swungposition for but an instant and just long enough to chop the tops fromthe beets, and are promptly returned to their initial or non-cuttingposition by the action of a weight or spring hereinafter described.

To' assist the turning movement of shaft'12 after topping of each beet.These means include a link 83 connected to vL-arm 11, 18, and alsoconnected to an L arm 64' which is secured to an upright 85 on frameFII, see Figure 4 of the drawings. The L arm 84 carries a weight 86which serves to return the linkage 11, 18, arm 19, link 88 and arm 8| totheir original positions and throw the slidable block 64 back to itsinitial position and double curved rod 62 .out of engagement withtoothed wheel 66. If desired, a spring may be substituted for the weight86 to effect this result.

After the beets have been topped, the topped beets conveniently areconveyed to a hopper at the rear of the vehicle. Any desired conveyingmeans may be employed and in the present embodiment I have utilized anelevator which is chain driven from the driving wheels WB of the l eovehicle, or wheel 32 on rear axle when motor driven, and which includesa flat belt supported between side-plates. As illustrated in Figures 1and 2 -of the drawings, I provide-a sprocket wheel 81 which'is fastenedto a shaft 81A journaled in bracket B fastened to main frame FI of thevehicle. The sprocket wheel 81 is arranged to be driven by the samechain which drives sprocket wheel W on pin S, but if desired a separatesprocket* wheel4 may be mounted -on pin S and a separate chain betweenthe sameand wheel 81. A gear wheel 88 is fastened to shaft 81A and isarranged to mesh with a gear wheel 89 secured to a shaft 89A journaledin bracket B secured to frame FI. Driving wheels 90 for driving beetelevator chain 9| are mounted on shaft 89A, see Figures- 22 and 23 ofthe drawings. At the upper end of the elevator, chain driving wheels 901are provided and mounted on a shaft in bearings on a bracket fastened tohopper of the vehicle. The elevator is provided with side pieces SIA.for confining the beets upon a conveyor belt 9|B which is fastened tothe chain 9|.

Referring ag-ain to the beet topping mechanism and especially to theshowings in Figures 5 and 6 ofthe drawings, it will be observed that Ihave provided follow-up "means for preventing displacement of themechanism during the topping operation which might otherwise occur as aconsequence of the excessive gripping of the beet leaves and possibletwisting of the belts 3|, 3|1 during their forward movement. Thesefollowconnected to arms 52 and also to links 96, the latter beingconnected to L-arms 91 which in -turn are connected to movable sleeves91A.on

The L-arms 96 are pivotally conthe arms 52. nect'ed to arms 91B of frameFIII. Smallv rollers 91C are carried by the sleeves 91A and bear againstthe rods 52 thus facilitating the movee ment of the above describedlinkage.

'I'he topped beets are delivered from the beet elevator intoa hopperdisposed at the rear of the vehicle and rigidly fastened to the frameFI. Means are provided for the automatic opening of the hopper'doors forthe discharge of topped beets and for automatic closing of hopper doorsafter discharging. These means are illustrated in detailed and enlargedviews in Figures 14 to 20 inclusive of the drawings. With particularreference toFigures 14 and 15 of the drawings, it will be observed thatI provide an L lever 98 which is connected with link 99 which in turn isconnected to an arm |02 on a'rod |03 which is secured to an inclinedbottom |04 of the hopper. Hopper doors |05 are provided andare adaptedto swing outwardly to dump the topped beets to the sides of the vehiclewhen the load pressure of the beets on the inclined bottom |04 becomessulrlcient to press the doors outwardly, thus automatically dischargingthe topped beets as the pressure thereof overcomes the closing pressureagainst the doors. Release hooks |05A, see Figure 20 of the drawings,'are provided on the doors |05. for actuation by a hand-lever,hereinafter described, when it is desired to open the doors |05 of thehopper before the hopper bottom |04 swings to one side or the other ofthe vehicle. The hopper doors also haveside wings |05B to prevent beetsbecoming wedged .between door and door sides during closing.

The weightof the topped beets as they seat upon the inclined bottom |04of the hopper bears against the doors |05 as well as against rods |06,

fastened in the doors. 'I'he movement of rods |06 causes movement ofarms |01, |011, carrying rollers, which are fastened to rods |06, seeFigures 14 and 20 of the drawings. 'Ihe rollers on arms |01, |011 areurged against springs ||0, ||01 which are fastened to the sides of thehopper and which carry rollers ||A in bifurcated bracketsfastenedthereto. Pressure upon springs ||0, ||01 forces the same outwardpast bars I l I1 which are* disposed between rollersA |I|A and I||Bmounted lin boxes H2, H21 fastened t0 the side of the hopper. As thesprings ||0, ||01 are pressed outwardly, the bars |||1 drop behind therollers ||0A and lock the springs |0,

|`|01 in their outward positions thereby allowing arms |01, |011 to passto the positionsindicated in Figure 15 of the drawings and permittingthe opening of the doors to discharge the beets. During the closingofthe doors, as hereinafter described, bifurcated rods H3, H31, whichare pivotally fastened to extensions |0.1A on arms |01, |011, are urgedupwardly. 'I'he rods ||3, ||31 loosely support links H3A which arepivotally fastened to the hopper and to the bars ||I1. On the upwardmovement of rods ||3, ||31, pins ||3B on levers ||3A-are engaged and thellevers |3A are thus pivotally swung so as to raise'bars ||I, |||1thereby releasing the rollers I I0 A and permitting the return ofsprings ||0, |01 to their initial positions with hopper doors closed.See Figure 2l of the drawings'.

The mechanism for automatically opening and closing the hopper doorsincludes a stub-shaft ||4 journaled in frame FVI which is fastened tothe side ofthe hopper. A wheel I 5 is secured -to shaft 4. Details ofthe wheel ||5 are shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18 of the drawings and itwill be observed that this wheel includes an inner flange I I5A and anouter ange ||5E, a-portion ||5D of which is hingedly connected to theside of the wheel. An arm |5C extends between the inner flange l |5Aand'outer flanges I|5B and is fastened to the side of the wheel. Anextension spring ||5E is fastened to the section ||5D of the outerflange and anchored to the side of the wheel. 4If desired, the hingedsection |5D together with the spring ||5E may be placed on the ratchetside of the wheel. Spring. I 5E serves to bring the section I5D back toits initial position after arm ||5C hasv moved the roller on L arm I|1outwardly, hereinafter described.

As hereinabove mentioned, the pressure against rods |06 in the bottom ofthe hopper causes movement of arms |08, |081 and |09, |091 which areconnected to rods |06. Attached to arms |08, |081 are connecting rodsIIB, 61 which connect with L arms ||1, ||11 carrying rollers at theirouter ends.. The L arms ||1, ||11 are mounted on pins ||8 in the frameFVI. .The arms |09, |091 are attached to connecting rods ||9, H91 whichconnect with L arms |20, |201, carrying rollers, which are mounted onthe pins |81.

Upon opening ofthe left door |05 of the hopper by the pressure of thebeets at that door, see Figure 15 of the drawings, the L arm ||1, withroller, swings inside of the outer flange ||5B of the wheel ||5, whilethe L arm |20, with roller, 4swings outside of the inner iiange ||5Athrough locking position, the L arms ||1 and |20, with rollers, aremoved as above described into contact vto the flanges holding arms withthe wheel ilangeswhich hold the rollers until arm I|5C has passed rolleron arm I|1 which allows arm H1, with roller, to swing inward, thusopening hopper door. In order to prevent the forcing back of door |05while in a partially open position, I provide a lug I| 5F on the side ofthe inner flange ||5A of the wheel which contacts with a projection |20Aon an extension of L arm |20, thus sliding arm |20-out of contact withthe flange I I5A and the roller'on L-arm |20 clears the wheel flangeallowing hopper door to open. See, in this connection, Figures 14, 15,16 and 19 of the drs vings.

In the event that the bottom |04 of the hopper swingsin the otherdirection, the weight of the beets and pressure is directed against theright door |05 of the hopper, the elements |011, |081, |091, ||01, II11,with roller, |I91 and |201, with roller, come into play and the sameaction occurs on that side of the vehicle and hopper as in the case ofthe opposite side discussed above in describing the automatichopper-opening elements on the left of the hopper.

The closing of the hopper doors is effected byy the rotational movementof wheel ||5 and the wheel preferably is moved by chain drive connectingwith the shaft |2|A carrying the beet elevator wheels 901 at the top ofthe-elevator. In the embodiment illustrated, see Figures 2 and 15 ofthe'drawings, a bevel gear |2| mounted on shaft |2|A meshes with a bevelgear |2|1 which is secured to a stub-shaft I2 IB journaled in bearingsin ar bracket mounted on the hopper. A

sprocket wheel |22 is fastened to stub-shaft I2IB and a secondsprocket'wheel |23 is mounted on shaft ||4. A chain |24 is trainedaround sprocket wheels |2-2 and |23. By these connections,fwheel ||5isdriven by the movement of the beet elevator, which in turn moves inaccordance with the advance of the vehicle across the field. To preventreverse movement of the wheel II5, ratchet wheel ||5H is mounted onshaft I I4 which is secured to the side of the wheel II5, and a springpawl '|23A is pivotally mounted on the side of the sprocket wheel |23,the pawl disengaging the ratchet I I5I-I on reverse movement of thesprocket wheel |23.

As hereinabove mentioned with respect to the automatic opening of thedoors, the flanges |5A and ||5B of the wheel ||5 are so arranged thatthey hold thearms II1 and |20, with rollers, a suicient interval of timeto permit the opening of the door |05. This is also true with regard||11 and |201, with rollers, when the discharging occurs at the otherside of the vehicle giving that door |05 sufiicint time to fully open. Asufcient interval of time elapses to permit the discharge of the beetsbefore arm ||5C on side of 'wheel ||5 cornes around ,to engage theroller on thearm |I1 to move it outside of outer flange through sectionII5D. The release of these rollers returns the L arms to-their initial'position' and .the doors close, assisted by the return action o f thesprings ||0, ||01 after lbeing released from their 'outer lockedpositions by the upward movement of bars I I, I I1 due to the actionthereon of levers |3A which are moved by rods-` ||3, ||31.

In order to raise the frame FII from working position to road or turninghand lever |25 within easy of the vehicle from operators seat |251. Thelever |25 is movably mounted upon a bracket rigidly connected to frameFI and connected with rod |26 which in turn is connected to armpositions, I provide a reach of the operator' 4A on transverse rod 3mounted on uprights The lever |25 conveniently is pivoted to the bracketat pin |21. Movement of lever |25 to raise and lower the frame FII alsomoves a clutch on the rear axle of the vehicle to place sprocket wheel32, employed to drive the conveyor belts 3|, 3I1, out of and into gear.The clutch movement is effected by means of a link |28 which isconnected to an L-arin |29, the latter being connected to the clutch byconnecting rod |30 and clutch lever |3I, see Figures 2 and 13 of thedrawings. A hook |25A is provided on frame FI adjacent to the operatorsseat |251 for holding the lever |25.

The vehicle is steered from theoperators seat |251 by a steering wheeland columnv |32, the column being connected to the front wheels throughan arm |33, link |34 connected to the arm |33, and steering knuckle |35,together with a tie-rod |36. Y

Means are provided for making short turns by the vehicle, which includea clutch |31-se'e Fig.

ure 13 of the drawingsoperable by a foot pedal |30, and spring |38A toreturn pedal, there being no differential on the rear axle connectedtothe' driving wheels WB, and also include rod |39, L-arm |40, whichconnect the` pedal |38 to the clutch lever |42 through link |4I, seeFigures 12 and 13 of the drawings. Actuation of the clutch |31disengages the right drive wheel WB to permit swinging of the vehicle ona relatively short turn. It is to be observed that link |4| is ad'justably mounted in order that it can be made to function in differentlengths whereby the machine can be adjusted to differences in beet rows.

Mounted on uprights secured to frame FI as Well as on the hopper at therear of the belts 3|, 3|1 and adjacent'to the cutters 41, 411, is achutel |43fcr receiving and discharging the beet tops after they havebeen severed by the cutters. The chute |43 extends rearwardly andterminates beyond the hopper at the rear of the vehicle.

To provide for differences in width of beet rows in the various fields,I employ collars |44 on the front and rear axles, which may be mountedboth onthe inside and outside of the wheels if desired. Any width ofcollars |44 may be used and the collars also may individually vary inwidth.

In addition to the hand lever |25 above mentioned, I also provide handlever |60, as well as hand lever |601, to applyl needed pressure againsthopper door release hooks "I05A to permit discharge of beets beforehopper bottom |04l the rollers farther outwardly against a portion ofeach of the L-levers |62, |621 while another portion of each of suchL-levers is urged against the lug IISG on wheel ||5 in the direction of'its rotation, thereby requiring the springs ||0, ||01 to return morelslowly upon .their release when levers I| I, I I1 are shoved upwardly.

The foregoing described machine is relatively simple to operate and canbe handled by a single operator. Some of the elements, such as the lastdescribed set oflevers |62, |621, are' accessories rather than inherentparts of the machine, and the use of an engine, with its conjunctivedriving mechanism, is purely optional as the machine will perform itsseveral functions if the vehicle is propelled by other means.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded arange of equivalents commensurate with the scope of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A machine for pulling and topping beets comprising a vehicle adaptedto be advanced over a eld of beets, means on said vehicle for severingthe beets from the soil and for lifting the same upon the vehicle uponthe advance of said vehicle over the eld, means on said vehicle forIgripping the beet tops and for conveying the beets rearwardly on saidvehicle, a cutter for topping the beets during the advance of saidvehicle; said cutter being actuated to top the beets by the movement ofthe beets toward the cutter, Y

means for actuating said gripping and conveying means during the advanceof said vehicle, a hopper on said vehicle for receiving topped beets,

means for delivering topped beets from said cutter to said hopper; saiddelivering means being adapted to be actuated by the advance of saidvehicle, a door on said hopper; said door being adapted to openautomatically by the pressure of the topped beets in said hopper, andmeans on said vehicle and actuated by said delivering means forautomatically closing said door after discharge of topped beets fromsaid hopper.

2. A machine for pulling and topping beets comprising a vehicle adaptedto advance over a eld of beets, a movable frame supported on saidVehicle and adapted to be moved into a Working position and anon-working position, means for lowering said frame into workingposition, means on said frame for'severing beets from the soil and forlifting the beets onto said vehicle, a pair of endless belts movablysupported to pull the beets from the ground to positions between saidbelts, means for moving said belts to convey the beets rearwardly onsaid vehicle, a cutter supported on said frame and adapted to beactuatedto top the beets by the movement of the beets toward the cutter,a hopper on said vehicle, means for delivering topped beets from saidcutter to said hopper, means for discharging topped beets from saidhopper, said last named means being actuated automatically by the weightof topped beets in said hopper, means on said vehicle for automaticallyclosing said hopper after discharging the topped beets, and means formovingl said frame to non-working position.

3. A machine for harvesting beets comprising in combination, a vehicleadapted to advance over a eld of beets, means on said vehicle forpulling the beets from the soil and lifting the same onto said vehicle,means on said vehicle for topping the beets, and means for dischargingthe beets from said vehicle; said rst named means including a pair ofblades for severing the beets, a pair of endless belts for gripping beettops and conveying the beets rearwardly on said vehicle, and mechanismfor actuating said belts during tb advance of the vehicle; saidsecond-named means comprising a cutter on said vehicle adapted to beactuated to top the beets by the move'- ment of the beets rearwardly onsaid vehicle; and said third-named means comprising a hopper on saidvehicle for receiving topped beets, an

elevator actuated by the advance of said vehicle `in open position for apredetermined period, and

means actuated by the advance of the machine for automatically closingsaid Adoor upon vthe termination of said predetermined period. y

5.v In a machine for harvesting'beets, a hopper, a side door on saidhopper; said door being adapted to be automatically opened by the weightof topped beets in said hopper to discharge the beets from said hopperout of the path ofthe machine, means for locking said door in openposition for a predetermined period, and means actuated by the advanceof the machine for re' leasing said first named means at vthe end ofsaidv predetermined period.

6. A beet harvesting machine comprising a vehicle, means for severingbeets from the soil and lifting the same onto said vehicle, means onsaid vehicle for topping Vsaid beets, a hopper, means,y for conveyingthe topped beets to said hopper, a side door on said hopper; said doorbeing adapted to be automatically opened by the weight of topped beetsin the hopper to discharge beets out of the path of said vehicle, meansactuated by the advance of the vehicle for locking said door in openposition for a predetermined period, and means for releasing saidlocking means upon the termination of said-predetermined period.

7. A machine for harvesting beets comprising y a vehicle adapted to be'advanced over a ileld of beets, means on said vehicle for severing thebeets from the soil and for lifting the same upon the vehicle during theadvance of the vehicle over the iield, means on said vehicle forgripping the beet tops and for conveying the beets rearwardly on saidvehicle, a cutter for topping the beets and adapted to be actuatedduring the advance of the vehicle, a hopper on said vehicle forreceiving topped beets, means for delivering topped beets from saidcutter to said hopper; said delivering means being adapted to be'actuated by the advance of said vehicle, a door on said hopper; saiddoor being adapted to open automatically by the weight of the toppedbeets thereon, and means on said vehicle and actuated by saiddeliveringmeans for automatically closing said door after discharge oftopped beets from said hopper.

' JOSEF FECHTNER.

